<h4>Chapter 3:</h4>


    I keep ogling the ce up, trying to absorb everything at once, but my attention keeps going back to the shadows flying over us, my eyes narrowing to their bellies, making me trip sometimes for not paying attention to the path ahead, with the help of my not so trusty filled-with-big-ws paws.


    Those humiliating almost falls, however, are worth it for I can analyze the other creatures surrounding us, as Aaron follows right behind, still chatting with mother, but she sees my odd interest in the skies and starts adding:


    "That''s a Bunny hopper." She says to the numerous ones flying close by and lower than the others. "The Simurgh, those are hard toe by." She says to a half fox half peacock creature who had more feathers and colors than any flowers down below. "Wyverns, those have a temper, especially after hibernation, and there is the-" As I watch her exin and give name to some of these creatures, unsatisfied to see that most are much bigger than our owl forms, she suddenly stops and stares at one in specific as it hovers in circles above us.


    As if realizing it was being watched the Eagle-Lion griffin descends on top of us, flying too close forfort as if trying to hit us... no, me, the strong wind made by his wings almost pushing me backward and making me trip down the path, which makes mother very angry as she puts her leg in front of me to break the wind, crying a high tone piercing scream, eyes narrowing at the creature who hovers on top one more time, falling back as mother stands between us.


    As he gives up on that hends in front of us, his big paws and inconsiderable arrival brings dust and soil up in a cloud of smoke, earning my immediate disapproval with this attitude and this little meaningless show, even more when it ends with his smug cunning face.


    I narrow my eyes at him.


    I give a step forward without realizing it, making mother look down at me and bring me back towards her hind legs, but as I look up I realize that she did not mean to disrespect me or to hide me, but to make me believe in her as her yellow eyes shine with fierceness, staring the lion down, and even her smaller form does not make her feel threatened by the male griffin in front of us.


    And that fills me with pride.


    Go mother go!


    I quicklye to the conclusion that our smaller form is because wee from the owls and snow leopards, and as such they are naturally smaller than eagles and lions, but I cannot help but feel bothered by it, especially when the Eagle griffin scoffs his ugly face, showing part of with big sharp teeth, looking down on me as he walks in circles around us, judging and not carrying in hiding that.


    Part of me, and instinctual part, cannot help but be scared by such big creature as he shows signs of violence, especially when I''m not even the size of his paw, but my logical mind takes charge and does not let me embarrass myself and mother, making me stare back at him with defiance and not back off as my wobbling legs would have wished of me.


    He sneers, grunting as he says: "Such a little thing, yet it still does not cower in front of me and dares to re, it could only be the spawn of that ''pet''."


    If mother looked angry before, now she is livid.


    "Don''t you dare talk ill of my wing pair!" She screams, opening her wings and standing on her back legs, growing as tall and big as she could, her majestic pair of white wings shinning against the sunlight.


    The other griffin snorts, but I can see some reluctance in his demeanor, not truly wanting to face my mother as he says:


    "Alinda, Alinda, you will regret choosing that pet over me, and worst of all is that I won''t even have to do anything anymore to show you that. After all... I don''t see him around now, do you? Even though his son has just born... isn''t it?"


    That seems to have an impact on mother when worry shes in her eyes, but soon enough her angeres back as she screams: "Out with you Heavenw, out! I don''t want you near my son! Have youe here only to insult us?! Out!"


    He looks at her with unreadable brown lion eyes, licking his snout as if too eager to show fang. "Worry not, Alinda, I will go... for now, take care of yourself, you just had a baby, you should not strain your body with meaningless stress... right?" He says, mocking her.


    "I said out!" She ps her wings one more, but this time a freezing breeze apanies every p, and as I look down over the floor I can see a white cover suddenly form as my breaths make gushes of hot air out in front of me.


    The lion chuckles, as if amused with her outburst and show of strength, and says: "Never change Alinda, always enjoyed a woman with a little fight in her. Is always fun to break that spirit down."


    With onest angry look in my direction he turns and flies away, his open wings making him look three times bigger, if not more, giving no time for mother to suppress the livid anger his words made her feel to make coherent wordse out of her mouth.


    Even though mother stood against him I cannot help butpare his size to hers, it was like a lynx against a lion.


    I look up at her and see that''s her eyes are still focused on where he stood a few seconds back, as if still aware of his presence, her cautiousness making me worried about the oue of a possible fight.


    She probably senses my worry because she looks down at me and bumps me with her beak.


    "What''s with that face little one? Are you worried about mother?"


    "Chirp! Chirp chirp!" I say back, fiercely and stomping my paws on the ground, looking brave and noble... at least in my head.


    She chuckles and peaks at me once more, her rapid heartbeat resonating very close to my ears, and as she starts walking down once more I was the one this time to look back with worry in my eyes.